Washington (CNN) - You may disagree with it, but you shouldn’t make fun of it.

That’s what conservative Family Research Council president Tony Perkins told CBS’s "Face the Nation" on Sunday about U.S. Sen. Rand Paul’s arguably derogatory use of the term “gay.”

“The president, you know, recently weighed in on marriage,” Paul, a Kentucky Republican, remarked to the Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition, a conservative group, on Friday. “And, you know, he said that his views were evolving on marriage. And call me cynical, but I wasn’t sure that his views on marriage could get any gayer.”

The audience burst into a laughter that echoed all the way to the Sunday talk show tables, where opposing sides weighed in, from gay rights activist and singer Clay Aiken to Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus.

But Perkins’criticism of Paul’s comments was noteworthy because Perkins is one of the nation’s best-known opponents of same-sex marriage and of gay rights more broadly.

Condemning Paul’s remarks on Sunday, Perkins said the debate over homosexuality and same-sex marriage is not “a laughing matter.”

“I don’t think this is something we should joke about,” Perkins said on "Face the Nation." “We are talking about individuals who feel very strongly one way or the other, and I think we should be civil, respectful, allowing all sides to have the debate.”

While Perkins’ comments caught many by surprise, Aaron McQuade, director of news and field media for the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, said he doesn’t believe Perkins was defending the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.

“I think he was saying that he takes this issue so seriously that it’s not okay to make light of it, even if you also oppose it the way he does,” McQuade said in a phone interview.

“This is not a man who represents the 40-whatever percent of the country that does not support marriage equality,” McQuade said. “This is a man who represents a tiny, tiny, fraction of Americans who believes, as he does, that gay people have an emptiness within them. That they are abnormal.”

The Family Research Council did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Monday.

McQuade also said it was hard to tell what Paul meant by using the word “gayer.” “If that same comment was made by someone with a more pro-LGBT history, it likely would not be taken negatively,” he said.

On CNN’s "State of the Union" on Sunday, Perkins told chief political correspondent Candy Crowley that opposition to same-sex marriage shouldn’t be the “central point” of presumptive Republican nominee Mitt Romney’s campaign. But Perkins also admitted frustration with Capitol Hill Republicans who are portraying the issue as a political distraction.

“Defending the family, the cornerstone of civilization, is not a distraction,” he said, while stressing that the economy and jobs are also key issues in this election. “It should be a priority, and it should be a part of what Mitt Romney talks about.”

soundoff(414 Responses)

its a sad sad life when people , do to their own issues, have to hate others.

http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/picture-worth-thousand-memories

August 1, 2012 at 12:03 am |

juan es de la Marque

When will Christians mind their own business first ???? 🙂 🙂 🙂

June 22, 2012 at 12:53 pm |

kindness

This is my experience... Thank you.

MY personal testimony.
A thought to consider without an ego response

Accept Jesus christ as your lord and saviour. You never know how soon is too late. Transcend the worldly illusion of enslavement.
The world denounces truth....

Accepting Jesus Christ (for me) resulted in something like seeng a new colour. You will see it .....but will not be able to clearly explain it to anyone else..... Its meant to be that way to transend any selfism within you.

Also... much the world arranges "surrounding dark matter into something to be debated" in such a way that protects/inflates the ego.

The key is be present and transcend our own desire to physically see evidence. We don't know anyways by defending our own perception of dark matter.

Currently.... most of us are constructing our own path that suits our sin lifestyle. Were all sinners. Knowing that we are is often an issue. But both christians and non are sinners.

We don't like to Let go and let god. We want control to some degree. This is what Jesus asks us to do. "Follow me".
It's the hardest thing to do... but is done by letting the truth of scripture lead you (redemptive revelation)... as I said .

Try reading corinthians and see if it makes sense to you. Try it without a pre conceived notion of it being a fairy tale.
See the truth...
do we do what it says in todays society... is it relevant... so many have not recently read and only hinge their philosophy on what they have heard from som other person...which may have been full of arogance pride or vanity..

Just think if you can find any truth you can take with you ....in any of these things. When you die your riches go to someone who will spend away your life..... You will be forgotten.... history will repeat iteslf.... the greatest minds knowledge fade or are eventually plagerzed..... your good deeds will be forgotten and only give you a fleeting temporary reward . your learned teachings are forgotten or mutated..... your gold is transfered back to the rullers that rule you through deception. Your grave will grow over . This is truth .

Trancsend your egoism and free yourself from this dominion of satan. Understand you are a sinner and part of the collective problem of this worldly matrix... Repent.... Repent means knowing (to change) The Holy spirit (within) will convict you beyond what you think you can do by yourself. Grace is given to those who renounce the world. That are" in" the world but not "of " the world.

Faith comes by Reading or Hearing the word of god from the bible . Ask Jesus in faith for dicernment and start reading the new testament... You will be shocked when you lay down your preconceived notions and ....see and hear truth ... see how christ sets an example ... feel the truth....

Read Ecclesiastes. Read corinthians.

You cant trancend your own egoism by adapting a world philosophy to suit your needs. Seek the truth in Christ.

Sell all your cleverness and purchase true bewilderment. You don't get what you want ....you get what you are in christ.

I promise this has been the truth for me. In Jesus christ .

Think of what you really have to lose. ...your ego?

Break the Matrix of illusion that holds your senses captive.

once you do . you too will have the wisdom of God that comes only through the Holy Spirit. Saved By grace through Faith. Just like seeing a new colour.... can't explain it to a transient caught in the matrix of worldly deception.
You will also see how the world suppresses this information and distorts it

You're all smart people . I tell the truth. Its hard to think out of the box when earthly thinking is the box.
I'ts a personal free experience you can do it free anytime . Don't wait till you are about to die.. START PUTTING YOUR TREASURES WHERE THEY REALLY MATTER >
Its awsome and It's just between you and Jesus

my testimony

Romans 10:9

"If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved

June 15, 2012 at 2:01 pm |

TROLL ALERT

click the report abuse link to get rid of this TROLL, hopefully soon they'll block their IP address so they can't post anymore!

June 15, 2012 at 2:01 pm |

Jason Evan Mihalko, Psy.D.

I think it's important to be clear about what so-called reparative therapy is about.

Just for the record, every major US professional organization has made a policy statement that reparative therapy is ineffective, wrong, and unneeded. Who supports it, a fringe organization that the Sourthern Poverty Law Center calls a hate group. For a list detailing what the professional organizations state see: http://bit.ly/Jck4ZV For a look a letter that I wrote current president of NARTH, the pseudo-science hate group that defends reparative therapy see: http://bit.ly/Kutkqw (consider writing your own and let her know what you think about this being an American export) For a look at what a responsible psychologist does see (full disclosure, it's me writing here): http://bit.ly/Kp5kDB To hear what Julie Hamilton, the president of NARTH thinks, see: http://bit.ly/JQ6daZ Julie has responded to my letter (see above), with nonsense, on the NARTH website. Look for 'Misinformation Rampant in the Mental Health Field.' I am the 'concerned psychologist' she speaks of.

it is so ironic that rand paul was named after one of the greatest atheists of all time, yet spends so much of his time pandering to the religious extremists. just shows how much the paul family has turned their back on true libertarianism. what is so "small government" about using the law to prevent people from entering into marital contracts with each other?

May 15, 2012 at 7:24 pm |

CODreamin

True. Libertarianism, particularly as advocated by Ron Paul particularly, whom many believe Rand is of the same mind as, tends to want government out of the personal decisions citizens engage in. So it's curious to me that Rand wants government to prohibit people from making this personal decision. Looks like he only partially subscribes to the "government out of our personal business" concept. Quasi-libertarian.

May 16, 2012 at 10:14 am |

Bootyfunk

i wonder how many male prost.itutes this guy has had? sad when closeted g.ays are so h.omophobic.

May 15, 2012 at 1:43 pm |

carol Manning

The founder of the FRC hatre group is #1 on the hit parade of well known anti gay peopel who as usual turj out to be secretly gay. Thats george Rekers. He was also head of Narth which claims to fix gays, and that sure didnt work out wlll for Rekers.

BTW re Rekers, the really big deal is that he paid about $15000 to rentboy.com for his male escort. Capitalism at its finest.

One of these days we'll get the vids of Perkins having a little fun on the side, and it wont be with a woman.

BTW his sidekick – Peter Spriggs – an actor in xitan plays in ccollege – that tells a lot. I've seen Spriggs several times in legislative hearings and boy has he aged = looks exactly like someone I knew who had a really bad STD.

May 15, 2012 at 6:53 pm |

Numyorangay

LOL. . .I know, huh. My Ms. Perkins what perfect teeth you have and what's up with that left eye? Still swollen from a little spunk from the last facial?

May 15, 2012 at 9:08 pm |

GauisCaesar

CNN loves to not show my comments. They are always hypocrites anyhow.

May 15, 2012 at 10:57 am |

PerceivedReality

Psychiatry is a "soft" sceince, like alot of sceince, is based off of theory. Besides, even if true, does that mean that people cannot overcome their physiology? Did anyone ever say that life or getting to heaven is easy?

Just more excuses for disgusting sinful behavior, and a campaign to normalize the profane in our society.

If YOU do not CHOOSE what thoughts to entertain, and what actions you take...who does?

May 15, 2012 at 11:18 am |

Primewonk

Perceived Reality wrote, "Psychiatry is a "soft" sceince"

This shows that Perceived doesn't understand the science of Psychiatry, which is a medical subspecialty.

Perceived Reality also wrote, " like alot of sceince, is based off of theory"

All science is based off of theory. This shows that Perceived doesn't understand the word theory, the basics of the scientific method, or in all probability, anything to do with science.

Perceived Reality also wrote, " Besides, even if true, does that mean that people cannot overcome their physiology? "

Wait...What? You were just busy denigrating psychiatry, and now you're talking about physiology? You do know these are completely different, right? Physiology would be things like being born gay, or green-eyed. How, exactly would one "overcome" being green-eyed?

People are born gay. People are born straight. People are born bisèxual. You cannot change their innate orientation. And there is no medical or psychological or psychiatric, or physiological reason to do so.

Folks like Perceived Reality need to spend less time getting their "sciency" sounding information from the "Pastor Dave's" of the world, and instead take that time to crack open some science journals. The problem is that "Pastor Dave" is just as ignorant about science as his minions.

May 15, 2012 at 11:56 am |

just sayin

PerceivedReality

Psychiatry is a "soft" sceince, like alot of sceince, is based off of theory. Besides, even if true, does that mean that people cannot overcome their physiology? Did anyone ever say that life or getting to heaven is easy?

–

No but man said it. Choice? So each time you you want to #u ck, you have to make a choice. Meaning you could swing the other way at any moment as you are "deciding". If it a choice for you then you are "bi"

May 15, 2012 at 11:57 am |

HeavenSent

Primewonk, most infants when born don't think or know anything about s3x. Funny that the Psychi-atric soc-iety is focused on telling anyone what s3x they'll prefer when they are born. Talk about phon-ies on the payroll. Next they'll be sel-ling you a bill of goods why you should love the color yellow instead of green.

May 15, 2012 at 5:16 pm |

just sayin

HeavenSent

...... Talk about phon-ies on the payroll. Next they'll be sel-ling you a bill of goods why you should love the color yellow instead of green.

--–
So let me guess...each time you want to "do it" you have to "decide". There is a moment where you could go the other way but go another. If it is a choice then you are clearly "Bi"

May 15, 2012 at 5:22 pm |

HeavenSent

LOL. Do you think (that's an understatement) about anything but s3x?

May 15, 2012 at 5:35 pm |

Reality

ONLY FOR THE NEWCOMERS––>>>>>>>>>>

"Abrahamics" like Rand and Perkins believe that their god created all of us and of course that includes the g-ay members of the human race. Also, those who have studied ho-mo-se-xuality have determined that there is no choice involved therefore ga-ys are ga-y because god made them that way.

To wit:

o The Royal College of Psy-chiatrists stated in 2007:

“ Despite almost a century of psy-choanalytic and psy-chological speculation, there is no substantive evidence to support the suggestion that the nature of parenting or early childhood experiences play any role in the formation of a person’s fundamental heteros-exual or hom-ose-xual orientation. It would appear that s-exual orientation is biological in nature, determined by a complex interplay of ge-netic factors and the early ut-erine environment. Se-xual orientation is therefore not a choice.[60] "

"Garcia-Falgueras and Swaab state in the abstract of their 2010 study, "The fe-tal brain develops during the intraut-erine period in the male direction through a direct action of tes-tosterone on the developing nerve cells, or in the female direction through the absence of this hor-mone surge. In this way, our gender identi-ty (the conviction of belonging to the male or female gender) and s-exual orientation are programmed or organized into our brain structures when we are still in the womb. There is no indication that social environment after birth has an effect on gender ident–ity or s-exual orientation."[8

See also the Philadelphia Inquirer review “Gay Gene, Deconstructed”, 12/12/2011. Said review addresses the following “How do genes associated with ho-mose-xuality avoid being weeded out by Darwinian evolution?”

Of course, those gays who belong to Abrahamic religions are supposed to obey the rules of no adu-ltery or for-nication allowed.

And because of basic biology differences said monogamous ventures should always be called same-s-ex unions not same-s-ex marriages.

From below, on top, backwards, forwards, from this side of the Moon and from the other side too, gay se-xual activity is still mutual masturbation caused by one or more complex se-xual differences. Some differences are visually obvious in for example the complex maleness of DeGeneres, Billy Jean King and Rosie O'Donnell.

Yes, heteros-exuals practice many of the same "moves" but there is never a doubt who is the female and who is the male.

So, where does that all leave us? Choosing a behavior is different than choosing ones genetically handed down blueprint and the nature/nurture argument has not, in my last check, been finally determined. Certainly science has shown that environment can alter the genetic predispositon but then we have to deal with time and order of those changes among other things. On top of that, we still have no idea if there are other factors that can take a similar strand of DNA across two individuals and result in differences across them that are controlled by that strand. Then of course their is the idea of choice. When one say that another has no 'choice' are we talking of the mechanism or the behavior. Certainly even if I believe that there may be a population who are genetically predisposed to a specific gender attraction that does not in and of itself remove 'choice'. Not all who have same gender affiliations are genetically mandated as there are those who have same gender mandates that practice cross gender affiliations of a reproductive possible action. Then we have those who give up all reproductive causing actions and seek higher spiritual growth and are we lead to believe that this is not a choice?
I believe that the genetically mandated attraction would not force the choice but lead one to a possibly stronger likelihood of making a certain choice- such as the revulsion and same gender or cross gender person may have if thinking about interaction with that person who is not of the attractive gender. This does not mean one cannot choose to deny that feeling of revulsion. This would point to the expectation that a relatively small group of the population expects the larger group to choose to overcome their genetically predisposed sense of revulsion from same gender behaviors. Which leads to two other questions- Mt first is which group is better at choosing to overcome their genetically linked gender attraction revulsions and...isn't marriage a PUBLIC affair? Contracts and marriages both take place in public because of th general welfare of the larger group/community. In both religious sacraments and cicl contract law, both parties are required to enter into the union by choice free and willingly. Would not a genetic determinate in whch one has no choice create all such unions to be null and void?

Two bigots battling it out over the best way to capitalize on Oabama's decision to do the right thing. Nothing but vultures.

May 15, 2012 at 3:26 am |

I AM THE WORLD OF WARCRAFT

DEAR STUPID,

IF YOU KNEW ANYTHING AT ALL, YOU'D KNOW OBUMASS DIDN'T MAKE ANY DECISION ON THIS MATTER AT ALL. IF YOU PAID ANY ATTENTION TO THE NEWS AT ALL, YOU'D KNOW BIDEN, THE RETARD RUNNING MATE, MADE CERTAIN COMMENTS THAT FORCED THE OH SO ARROGANT, MISGUIDED AND USELESS "POTUS" INTO MAKING A STATEMENT THAT HE DOESN'T AGREE WITH. HE SAID OUTRIGHT BEFORE HE IS AGAINST GAY MARRIAGE. BUT NOW ALL THE SUDDEN HE'S EVOLVED? I DON'T BLOODY THINK SO. IT'S OBVIOUS THAT HE GOT FORCED INTO MAKING PUBLIC STATEMENTS HE DID NOT WANT TO DO. HE STILL HATES GAYS LIKE ALL GOOD CHRISTIANS DO. OBAMA IS A CHRISTIAN, AND HE HATES GAYS. BY CHRISTIAN LAW HE HAS TO HATE GAYS HARD AND THE BIBLE COMMANDS PEOPLE TO PUT THOSE GAYS TO DEATH. HE SAID HE'S A CHRISTIAN, SO WE KNOW WHAT HIS TRUE STANCE IS ON THE MATTER. EVER NOTICE HOW HE LOOKS LIKE A MALNOURISHED KENYAN? AND HIS WIFE IS UGLY AS SIN. HER EYEBALLS LOOK LIKE THEIR FLOATING IN A SEA OF TAR. SERIOUSLY, SHE NEEDS TO STOP TANNING.

I DON'T CARE IF YOU WRITE MORE. I'M SIMPLY ASTOUNDED THAT WITH SUCH LITTLE EFFORT YOU PUT INTO TWO LITTLE USELESS SENTENCES, YOU MANAGED TO MURDER HIS NAME. I AM JUST NOT SURE HOW YOU MANAGED TO PULL THAT OFF. DID IT REQUIRE TOO MUCH TIME AND EFFORT TO LOOK TO MAKE SURE YOU DIDN'T FAT FINGER ANYTHING? I DON'T MEAN TO BE RUDE OR ANYTHING BUT YOU'RE REALLY DUMB.

I AM NOT ANGRY, NOR I GIVE A SHIT ABOUT SPELLING MISTAKES. I WAS MERELY ASKING HOW ONE MANAGES TO DESTROY THE NAME OF A FAMOUS MONGREL IDIOT IN THE SPAN OF 22 WORDS. THE "O" AND THE "A" AREN'T EVEN NEAR EACH OTHER. THE LOGISTICS DON'T EVEN MAKE SENSE. NETHER ARE "B" AND "A." A LITTLE CLOSER THAN "O" BUT THAT'S IT. I WAS JUST LOOKING FOR AN ANSWER. SORRY TO HAVE OFFENDED YOUR DELICATE LITTLE SENSIBILITIES.

TELL US HOW YOU MANAGED TO CRUCIFY THE GREAT WARRIOR POTUS' NAME WITH SUCH LITTLE TO SAY IN THE FIRST PLACE. IT BLOWS THE MIND. IT'S LIKE WATCHING SOMEONE JUMP OUT OF A PLANE NAKED AND THE NEXT THING YOU KNOW THEY'RE PLOWING THEY'RE WEARING A DRESS AND PLOW INTO A BRICK WALL ON THEIR BICYCLE AT 300 MILES PER HOUR. WHERE DID THE BIKE AND THE DRESS COME FROM? THEY WERE FALLING FROM A PLANE ONE SECOND, AND THE NEXT THEY'RE ON A BIKE? DOESN'T MAKE SENSE RIGHT? THAT ABOUT SUMS UP YOUR FASCINATING ERROR. NONE OF US CAN EXPLAIN IT DUE TO THE LOCATION OF THE KEYS ON THE KEYBOARD. THAT IS UNLESS YOUR KEYBOARD WAS REMAPPED. DID YOU CHANGE THE LAYOUT?

Warcraft...dude you have alot of vent up anger going on. Here where you are missguided. First: It does not matter why Obama took the public stand he did because it still calls the attention to this issue which is needed. Second: No one can "force" the President to take a stand no matter what they say. Third: Obama, regarless of his reason, has taken a bold move in making a public statement on gay marriage. Due to the fact that it is uncertain how doing so will have an affect on his re-election champaign. Forth: Christians for most part do not HATE gays. Its the sin itself they hate. Fifth: What does his apperance have to do with anything?"Or his wife Michelles? That was a crude comnent to post. Sixth: Take your cap lock off. Yelling does not help your cause.

May 15, 2012 at 7:06 am |

GodPot

I'm guessing the race he played in Warcraft was Troll...

May 15, 2012 at 11:21 am |

just sayin

Was I AM THE WORLD OF WARCRAFT saying something??????????????????????????

The CNN Belief Blog covers the faith angles of the day's biggest stories, from breaking news to politics to entertainment, fostering a global conversation about the role of religion and belief in readers' lives. It's edited by CNN's Daniel Burke with contributions from Eric Marrapodi and CNN's worldwide news gathering team.